24 BIRDS OF NORFOLK. 



ACCIPITER NISUS (Linnaeus). 

 SPAKKOWHAWK. 



That so rapacious a bird as the little Sparrowhawk 

 should not be a very abundant resident in a county where 

 game is so strictly preserved as in Norfolk, can scarcely be 

 a matter of surprise, but on the contrary it is rather re- 

 markable that so many are still resident with us through- 

 out the year, though, from the large number at times 

 brought to our bird staffers during the autumn and winter 

 months, I feel sure that these birds, as well as kestrels, 

 migrate to our coast from more northern localities. 

 Under this impression, I carefully noted down the age 

 and sex of every bird of this species that came under my 

 notice between November, 1862, and the following 

 April; and of some twenty-four specimens, at least 

 eighteen were blue barred females, four immature, and 

 two old males, with the red bars of their mature 

 plumage. So large a number of adult females appear- 

 ing consecutively throughout the winter season is, I 

 think, pretty good evidence of their foreign origin, 

 whilst the paucity of young birds in the above list is 

 easily accounted for by the fact, that when killed they 

 are generally thrown away, being hardly thought 

 handsome enough for preservation. The beautiful 

 little male in its adult state, with rich reddish bars 

 on the breast and flanks, is rare in Norfolk, and 

 very old females, with the same chesnut tints, are even 

 more scarce, not one of the specimens above referred to 

 showing any indication of this third change. Anecdotes 

 are not wanting in this district of the boldness of the 

 sparrowhawk in pursuing its prey through the windows 

 of dwelling-houses, or snatching up young partridges or 



